7. Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V A New Story of Pendulum (Xyz Arc)

Chapter 23 A Sea of Troubles

In the Different Dimension Airship, Yuya and Yuni sat across from each other, the faint hum of the engines filling the quiet cabin. Between them lay several glowing Number Cards, their symbols flickering softly under the light.

Yuya broke the silence first. "Yuni, what's on your mind?"

Yuni's eyes lingered on the cards before turning to her brother. "I can't shake the feeling that there's a pattern behind these Numbers."

"A pattern?" Yuya tilted his head. "What kind of pattern are you talking about?"

Yuni exhaled slowly, tapping the edge of one card. "Haven't you noticed? Before we conquered the first base, every Number that challenged us ended with the digit one. After we took that base, the next batch all ended with two. Now that we've captured the second base, the Numbers ending with three are starting to appear. It's like someone's guiding the sequence."

Yuya blinked, realization dawning on his face. "You're right... How didn't I catch that? So you think that once we take the third base, the ones ending in four will show up next—and so on?"

"That's what I'm guessing," Yuni replied. "But there's something that still bothers me. What about Numbers 9 and 0? How are we supposed to retrieve them? And more importantly..." She lowered her voice. "I can't help thinking the mistress Number 96 warned us about is doing this on purpose—deliberately slowing us down. But why?"

Yuya crossed his arms, brows furrowing. "No idea. But if the pattern keeps up, then the next opponents should be Numbers 73, 33, or 93. The question is—do we wait for them to find us, or—"

Before he could finish, Astral's voice echoed behind them. "No. We go to them."

Both siblings turned as Astral materialized in a shimmer of blue light.

Yuni frowned. "Go to them? What do you mean, Astral?"

Without a word, Astral gestured for them to follow. He led them into the control room, where a massive holographic globe floated in the air, marked by six glowing dots.

Yuya stepped closer. "Astral... is this—"

"You are correct," Astral interrupted gently. "The Mythyrian Numbers have returned to their respective ruins. I cannot explain how, but I know it isn't by chance."

Yuni's gaze hardened. "So you think this mistress might be wasting our time—sending us on a scavenger hunt just to delay us?"

"There's a possibility," Astral admitted. "But according to the readings on this globe, only one site currently holds a Number Monster—the Abyssal Ruins."

"The Abyssal Ruins..." Yuni murmured. "That's where Numbers 73 and 94 were sealed."

Astral nodded. "Exactly. We'll need to head there next."

Yuya's concern rose immediately. "But if we take the airship, the Duel Lodge will lose its protection! Academia could find it easily!"

Astral calmly pressed a button on the console. A vast blue barrier shimmered to life around the image of the Duel Lodge.

Yuni's eyes widened. "Wait... that's the Sphere Field?"

"Yes," Astral said, watching the projection hum steadily. "After studying the Barian Sphere Field, I modified it to serve as a defensive shield. It will protect the others from any assault Academia might launch."

Yuya nodded, reassured. "Then it's settled. We'll move out tomorrow."

Yuni and Astral exchanged a firm nod before turning to leave, heading back toward the Duel Lodge for some much-needed rest.